Wireless automatic railway registering system.



c. L. BOPP. wmmss Auommc RAILWAY REmsTEmNG SYSTEM.

r PPUCATION FILED FEB- 24. l9|3 i 1,213,066. A Patented Jan.16,1917.

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C. L. BOPP.

WIRELESS AUTOMATIC RAILWAY REGISTERING SYSTEM.

APPucnloN man FEB. 24. 1913.

y1,213,066.. Patented Jan.16,1917

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED LsTaTEs PATENT oEEIcE.

CLINTON L. BOPP, 0F WATERLOO, IDWA.

WIRELESS AUTOMATIC RAILWAY REGISTERING SYSTEM.

[o all whom t may conde/mf Be it known that I, CLINTON L. Borr. citi zenof the United States, residing at Water loo,in the County of Blackhawkand State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inWireless Automatic Railway Registering Systems; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappeitains to make and use the same.

This invention' relates 'to block signaling systems, and one object ofthe invention is to provide means at the end of each block and at otherdesignated points for indicating the name of Vthe station which a giventrain is passing and also for indicating the number of the next tra-ii:to pass that station.

Another object of the invention is to pro-V of the system.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a block signalingsystem with wireless telegraph apparatus for taking up a signal and ashort insulated track section adjacent the wireless apparatus, the saidwireless apparatus operating only when the moving train is passing overthe insulated track section. ,i

With these and other objects in view the invention comprises certainnovel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts as will behereinafter -more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows the` circuits which are stationary alongthe system at station 1. Fig. 2 shows circuits similar to those in Fig.1, but located at station 2. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of theHertzien-wave generating apparatus carried by the locomotive.

I am aware that it has been proposed PatentedlJan. 16, 1917.

Serial No. 750,426.

to use wireless telegraphy for use in block signaling systems, and alsofor commllni eating between trains or ships at sea, but these systemshave required that the message be sent for a considerable distancethrough the medium of the ether'. I am also aware that some ofthesewireless signaling systems are designed to be usedsin connection withwires or metallic conductors running along the line of traffic, thesemetallic conductors in some cases being insulated at the ends of theblocks. These metallic conductors, however, do not act to transfer theactual signaling current from one block to another, but serve only asa.4

means for directing the wireless waves which are set up by theI-Iertzian wave generatthe ordinary telegraph apparatus and also a wireor other metallic conductor strung along the path of traffic, but themetallic conductor in this present instance does not serve to directthe` Hertzian Waves but serves to transmit comparatively low potentialcurrent from one block to another, the conditions upon which the currentis transferred being dependent upon the proximity of the wave generatingset on the train to the wireless up aratus located at thecnd of theblock. enerally, this object is obtained by having a short insulatedtrack section located at the end of euch block and in also havingwireless appara `tus adjacent the insulated track section apparatuswhich is not greater than the i length of the insulated track section.Local circuits closed by the wireless apparatus then transmit thesgnalto the next station by meansof the metallic conductor.

In the drawings butv one specific .arrangement is shown foraccomplishing my desired results, and referring more particularly 'toFig. 3, which illustrates the apparatus to be carried by the movingtrain, it will be seen that there is provided a suitable source 1 ot'alternating current shownherc as a generator which may be driven b anysuitable mechanism carried by the ocomotive. Connected across thcgencrators a suitable condenser 2, the circuit for which conden ser maybe b roken by means of a manually operated switch 3. Connected inparallel with the 'condenser 2 isa primary 4 of a 25 scribed` morecompletely hereinafter.

suitable induction' coil, while the secondary 5 of the induction coil isconnected to suitable means 6 for defining the spark gap. One side 7 ofthe means for defining the spark gap is electrically connected to theground, -While the other side is connected to a suitable an?v tenna 8.While the source of current 1 has been shown as an alternating currentgenerator, yet it is to be understood, lof course, that any means can beprovided for producing either an alternating or a pulsating current inthe primary 4 of the induction coil, and further that such changes inthe condenser, len h of spark gap, and antenna, may be ma eas will befound-'necessary in any 4particular set of operating con'. ditions.

By means of the structure sc -far described it will be seen that whenswitch 3 isvclosed a spark willpass across the spark gap, said sparkbeing effective Ainsetting up Waver whicil; emanate from the antenna.Thspar is designed to be of suchstrength as to be effective over acomparatively small area, the` dimensions of this area being de-Rge'ferring now more particularly tothe stationary circuits andapparatus which are z connected at the en d of each block and which A nantenna 10 is connected by means of a.

are shown in Figs. l and2, where the conditions are shown astransmitting a'signal from station 1 to station 2, it .will'be seen thatthe railway track is provided with an insulated section comprisingparallel members 8 and 9v mounted in anysuitable way.

wire 11 to a coherer 1 2, which coherer 12 is connected by means of awire 13 to the ground.- While I have shown a coherer as one specificmeans or apparatus for detecting the passage of very minute currents inthe antenna, yet itis to be understood that I may use-any of the manyforms of detectors which. are known and used in wireless telegraphy. Asthe locomotive carry-ing the Hertiian wave generating set approaches butis still distant rom the insulated track section, the waves set up bythe said ap#4 paratuswill not be suciently strong to reduce theresistance of the coherer sufficiently for local" current topasstherethrough, but when-the .locomotive enters uponthexinsulated'tlrack section the, Waves emanating 'gfx-,ern thelocomotive willhave become strong enough to cause' the c oherer torespond, and

' there "will be set up suicient current in the antenna to break downvery materially the resistance of 'the coherer, these actions beuingvvellgunderstood byy those familiar with 0.0,.,

thaw 1f-wireless telegraphy., `When current has passed. through thecoherer 12 and has reduced the resistance thereof, current will. pass ina local circuit from the ground,

through wire 14, electro-magnet 15,' wire 1 6, battery 17, 4impedancecoil=18` wireA 19, co-

herer 12, wire 13, and return to the ground. The impedance coil 18 isfor the purpose of orci high potential current from the antennarroughthe eoherer and preventing the discharge thereof to the ground Withoutassing through said coherer. Current flowing in the circuit justdescribed will enerand 21, which will close respectively contacts 22 and23. When electromagnet 15 is energized and armature 20 is contacted withcontact 22, a'c'ircnit will be completed from the ground at station 1through wire 14, armature 20, contact 22, wire 24, wire 25, wire 26,electro-magnet 27, wire 28, where the current divides,l part going toelectro-magnet 29, Wire 30, binding posts 3a, Wire 31, to the main line32 at station 1; thence to binding post 41J at station 2, wire 33, Wire28', electro-magnet 29', wire 30', binding post 3", wire 34', wire 35',switch 36' (which is to be closed) wire 37', battery 38 to the ground,thus completinnr the circuit. From Wire 28 that part n gizeelectro-magnet15, `which energization "will result in the raising ofarmatures 20 of the current which does'no't pass through electromagnet29 will pass down Wire 33,

binding post 4, line Wire 100 back, said l wire 100 being in fact,comparable with Wire 3.2 as seen in Fig. 1, sothat at stations behindstation 1, the magnets 29 will be energized in a manner already,described but the tracing'of the circuits will be in reverse order. Forinstance, assuming that the impulse which has been traced as far Iasmain line `Wire 100 is to be impressed upon line 32, the current wouldpass up wire 3 1, -binding post 3, wire 30, electro magnet 29, 'wire 28,wire 33, binding post 4 and back to the main line from which point itwould go to the next station behind and to the ground there. This groundconnection may be provided at the extreme rear through connections inFig. 1 similar to 34', 35', 36', 37', 38 of Fig, 2 (assuming connect-ion32, Fig. l). It will bev observed 'that magnets 27 and 29 are energizedat iowing in thisfeircuit will `energizeeleetromagnet 45, which` in turnwillattraet, its

armature-48, one :endofwhich 1s pivodf to a frame 49, andthe other endofhas pivotally connected,thereto a. paw-l- 5.9, which pawl 50gis"admmadv toen n ratchet wheel .5.1 rigidly conn' to a les tape drum 52.Trained. over theru ,l .152.--

looking through aperture 54 willbe able to` tell what the number of thenext train Will be, and knowing the schedule time of said train will beable to tell when the next train is due.

When electro-magnet 29 1s energized its armature will be attracted toclose contact 56, whereupon currentwill flow from battery 41, wire 42,binding post 2, armature 55, contact 56, wire 57, electro-ma net 58.wire 59, Wire 47, binding post 1u, bac i to the battery 41.Currentilowing in this cirr cuit will attract the armature 60, one end owhich is pivotally connected within the frame, 49, while the other endthereof' is pivotally connected to a pawl 6l which paw-l is adapted toengage a ratchet wheel 62, which is rigidlyl ounted upon a drum 63,above which is ftained a tape 64. The tape 64 which. is trained aroundthe second drum corresponding to drum 63 has printed there'- onsuccessivel the names of the stations which are to e passed `by thetrain as the latter passes over the'system. By means 'of 'an aperture-65 it will be possible to see the name of the various stations printedon the tape 64. The name of sta-tion which a given train is passing willappear through opening at all the stations, all tapes 64 being operatedtogether, When the train passes the next station, all of the tapes willagain be operated toshow the name of that station. If'the numberof thetrain be 45, that number will appear on the short tape53 up to the timethe train passes, when tape 53 at the station being passed will'beshifted to show-the number of the next train.' The ,tape is not moved atany other station' until altrain passes that station, as Y"contact 40would be open. The next train Vwill operate the several pieces ofapparatus in a similar manner, assuming that the rst trainhas i* passedthe stations connected as above delasI scribed.

When the train passes the short insulated track section it is desirableto provide some means for leaving the coherer in such a condition as tobe ail'ected when the next train passes thereby. To-this end there isprovided'ateach station a battery 66 one-sideof which is connected bymeans ofwires 67 and 68 to one of the parallel sides 8 of the insulatedtrack section whereas the other side of the battery is connected bymeans of wires' 69 and v70 to section 9 of the insulated track section.It will be obvious that so long as the train is passing the insulatedtrack sec tion that the rail sections 8 and 9 will be shortcircu'ited sothat battery 66 will be short circuited and no current can flowtherefrom in an external circuit. As soon as the train leaves thesections 8 and 9, however, this short circuit is removed from thebattery and current will flow from the ground through wire 14, througharmature 21., through contact 23, wire 71, wire (39, battery 66, wire67, wire 72, stationary contact 73, movable contact 74, which isconnected to armature7 5, through electro-magnet 76, wire 77 ,to theground. This circuit will be complete inasmuch as the resistance of thecoherer 12 is sufficiently low to allo7 enough current to How throughelectro-magnet 15 t0 keep armature 21 in contact with Contact point 23.wWhen current flows in the circuit linst described the electro-magnet 76 will be energized, which will result in the attraction of one end ofthe armature 75, which armature is pivoted at its center and provided.atI the outer' end with a hammer 78. As the armature 7 5 is attracted bythe electro-mag net the hammer 7S will strike the coherer 12, so as todisturb the paths through the granular portions of the coherer to suchan extent that the resistance is immediately' increased. If the irstblow of the hammer 78 is not suiiicient the electromagnet 15 will ofcourse continue to be'energized and contact 23 will also be closed, sotheta' second im pulse will flow through electrdmagnet 76 to attractarmature Hence a second effort will be made by the hammer to break downthe path through the coherer. This 'action continues until insuicientcurrent flows through electro-magnet 15 to maintain arm ature 21 againstcontact 23.

The switches 36, one of which is located at each station, may bemanually or automatically closed, the position of the switches beingsuch that all of the switches ahead of 'the station which the trainispassing are to be closed, .whereas the switch at thestation net 29 andthe station tape are to be operated at given stations in the rear, aspreviously described, switch 36 would be closed only at the extremerear, to effect aground connection. v

If for any reason it should be desired to energize one of the magnets 27or 29 independently of the train, the apparatus contained within thehousing 79 is provided, this apparatus comprising ai pair of buttons 80and 81; Whenit is desired lto advance the tape giving-'the namesof thestations one step, the button 80 is pressed inwardly,

which will resultin the following circuit:

Current will start from battery 82, pass over wire 33, binding post s,wire 84, contact 85, spring contact 86, binding post o, wire 87, wire31, binding post 3, wire 30, electro magnet 29, wire 28, wire 33,binding post 4, wire 88, wire 89, binding post fw, spring contact 90,contact 91, wire 92, binding post y, Wire 93, back to battery 82.Current flowing in this circuit will energize magnet 29which will resultin moving the tape 64 bearing the station names upwardly one step aspreviously described. lt it be desired to advance the tape bearing thenumber of the l next train the button 81 will be pressed insiredstations.

' means for opening said circuit when thev relecinfomagneti'c nmeanswardly, when current will flow from battery 82, through wire 83, bindingpost e, contact 94, spring Contact 95, Wire 96, binding post ai, wire97, Wire 26, electro-magnet 27, wire 33,.binding post 4, wire 88, wire89, binding post we, Wire 98, spring contact 99, contact 100., wire 92,binding post y, Wire 93, back to battery 82. Current flowing in thiscircuit will energize electromagnet 27, which will result in theenergization of the magnet for advancing they tape bearing the number ofthe trains one step.

From Vthe system herein described, it will be seen that a local circuitis closed by means of wireless telegraph apparatus carr-ied by thetrai-n and that this local circuit sends impulses of low potentialcurrent over a line wire 4which sends impulses to the de While thedescription has been limited to two successive stations, yety it is tobe understood that' the line 'wires could be continued on either side ofthe two stations described so as to embrace a complete system.

What I claim is;

1. A wireless system for train signals cornprising means carried bythetrain to maintain a zone vof influence, a stationary relay, an opencircuit including said "relay and responsive to the influence, means'for closing said circuit when the train cornes within a predetermineddistance of the circuit, and

train `,passes a predetermined point.

v2. Aw-irelesssystem for. train signalscompricing means' .carried .bythe tram to maintain arzene-of influence, a. stationary relay, abattery, .an element responsive to the in- '.ucnce, a circuit `includingsaid relay, bat

'teiy and element responsive to the influence,

to open said circuit at .thesresponsive-element, a second battery, usecond .circuit including said electro-magnetic rmeans and .secondbattery, and meansto short .circuit .the second battery .and therebyVdenergizre v'the electromagnetic ymeans to prevent the same fromopening athezilrstnsmedcmcuit .a awa-fram signaling yawn rar dansisingfmeansiixpon the train formantaining@ zone of'n 2 nance, a cohererresponfvcloned when the 'rely'is ener battery, said circuit ada ted tobe closed when the coherer respon s, electromagnetic means for agitatingthe particles of the cohercr, a second battery, an insulated railsection' of the track over which the train passes, a wire running fromeach side of the ,-7

second named battery to the rails of the insulated section respectively,a second circuit including said agitating means and the second namedbattery, vand means Vfor closing said circuit when the relay isenergized.

4. In a wireless signaling system for trains, means carried by the trainto set up a zone of influence, a relay, a battery, a circuit includingsaid relay and battery, an element responsive to the influenceA locatedwithin said circuit adapted to close the circuit when the train iswithin a predetermined distance from said clement, an insulated tracksection. in the track over which the train passes, a second battervLaconnection between one side of the battery and one of the rails of theinsulated section, a connection between the other side of the batteryand the other rai-l of the insulated section, means adapted to breaksaid circuit at the element responsive to the in fiuence, a secondcircuit including said sec-- ond named battery and said means forbreaking the circuit at the responsive'element, and means controlled bythe .relay adapted to close said second named circuit' as the relay isenergized,

cuit including said responsive element, bat-V tery, and relay, battery,means controllable by the electro- 4magnet to interrupt the path throughthe responsive element, an armature controlled by the relay, a circuitincluding said electro an electromagnet, a second magnet, said secondbattery, said armature when the relay is energized, and means to shortcircuit the 'second battery when the train approaches a predeterminedpeint.

6. A wireless system for signaling trams comprising means carried by.the train to maintain a' zone of influence, an element responsive totheinfluence, 'a battery, a relay,

a circuit including saidresponsive element, battery andv relay, a secondbattery, an armatureV :for 'the relay, an electromagnet, meansoperatcdlby theelectro-magnetto interrupt the circuit through theresponsive fafa` element when `the electromagnet lis energized, l

a circuitl including ythe second the armatureand elactromagnet ed to iso' circuit the second battery :mapas electromagnet, an armature therefor,a third electromagnet, a tape operating mechanism controlled by thethird electro-magnet, a circuit including the first named armature andsecond electro-magnet ada ted to be closed when the relay is energizeand a cir cuit including the third electromagnet and the armature forthe second electromugnetV adapted to be closed whenrthe secondelectro-magnet is energized7 and means to short when the trainneachesf'a predetermined point.

7. A wireless system for signalingtrains,

compris means on the. train to maintain a zone 0f mllence, a stationaryelement adjacent to the track and responsive to the zone of' influenceJa battery, a relay, a local circuit including the responsive element,the

Witnesses: y i FRED W. EKLUND,

H. M. Sowmzs.l

